South Shore Schools Confront National TikTok Safety Threats

MILWAUKEE, WI — School districts in Milwaukee County's southern suburbs may have an increased police presence on Friday following vague shooting threats to schools nationwide reportedly shared widely this week on the social media platform TikTok.

The Whitnall, Oak Creek-Franklin, Franklin, Greenfield and Greendale school districts said in a joint letter sent to parents Thursday that none of their schools were directly mentioned in any of the posts. The challenge shared on the platform encouraged students to threaten gun violence at their schools on Friday, Dec. 17.

"While we do not believe the threat to be credible, we are closely monitoring the situation and taking it seriously," said a letter signed by superintendents in the five suburban Milwaukee districts. "Additionally, our districts have been in contact with our local law enforcement and we may have an increased police presence in our buildings on Friday as an added precaution."

School districts on Thursday across the country took to addressing the national rumors of violence.

SEE ALSO: Wisconsin Schools On Alert To 'Troubling' TikTok Challenge

"This situation serves as a good example of why it is important to avoid sharing posts online that refer to school safety threats. Even if they are not credible threats, they can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for our students, families and staff," the letter sent to parents in the Greenfield, Whitnall, Greendale, Franklin and Oak Creek-Franklin school district said.

It's not clear where the threat started, but a news release from the Tooele County School District in Utah said the original threat started as a way for students to skip school and "morphed into something much more disturbing."

Franklin Public Schools has been in touch with the Franklin Police Department to have more police presence at schools on Friday, a spokesperson for Franklin Public Schools said in a statement to Patch.

SEE ALSO: TikTok December 17 Challenge Has Police, Schools On High Alert

Some reports say the December challenge is one of several stemming from the social media platform.

In September, another challenge called "Devious Licks" encouraged raucous acts of vandalism at schools. To participate in the challenge, students and TikTok users shattered mirrors, stole soap dispensers, fire alarms and football field turf, and intentionally clogged toilets, all while filming the antics to post on TikTok.

Read the full letter from Greenfield, Greendale, Franklin and Oak Creek school districts below:

Dec. 16, 2021

To our school families,

Recently, we have become aware of troubling posts that have been shared widely this week on
the social media platform TikTok. The posts refer to a threat to school safety on Friday,
December 17. In partnership with the surrounding school districts in our area, we wanted to
make our families aware of this national trend.

These Tik Tok posts did not originate in any of our school districts. Nor have any threats been
made to or in any of our schools. While we do not believe the threat to be credible, we are
closely monitoring the situation and taking it seriously.

Additionally, our districts have been in contact with our local law enforcement and we may have
an increased police presence in our buildings on Friday as an added precaution.

If you or your child become aware of any potential threat posted to social media or anywhere
else, please notify a school staff member or trusted adult right away.

This situation serves as a good example of why it is important to avoid sharing posts online that
refer to school safety threats. Even if they are not credible threats, they can cause a great deal
of stress and anxiety for our students, families and staff. Thank you for your partnership as we work to ensure a safe, secure and positive learning environment for all our students.

Sincerely,

Daniel D. Unertl, J.D., OCFSD Superintendent

Dr. Judy Mueller, Franklin Superintendent

Dr. Lisa L. Olson, Whitnall Superintendent

Lisa Elliott, Greenfield Superintendent

Dr. Kimberly Amidzich, Greendale Superintendent

Megan VerHelst, Patch Staff, contributed to this report.